Self-curing concrete types; water retention and durability

Abstract

Internal curing of concrete by the use of pre-saturated lightweight aggregates or polyethylene-glycol is well established method of counteracting self-desiccation and autogenous shrinkage. This study was carried out to compare among concretes without or with silica fume (SF) along with chemical type of shrinkage reducing admixture, polyethylene-glycol (Ch), and leca as self-curing agents for water retention even at elevated temperature (50 °C) and their durability. The cement content of 400 kg/m3, silica fume of 15% by weight of cement, polyethylene-glycol of 2% by weight of cement, pre-saturated lightweight aggregate (leca) 15% by volume of sand and water with Ch/binder ratio of 0.4 were selected in this study. Some of the physical and mechanical properties were determined periodically up to 28 days in case of exposure to air curing in temperature of (25 °C) and (50 °C) while up to 6 months of exposure to 5% of carbon dioxide and wet/dry cycles in 8% of sodium chloride for durability study. The concrete mass loss and the volumetric water absorption were measured, to evaluate the water retention of the investigated concretes. Silica fume concrete either without or with Ch gave the best results under all curing regimes; significant water retention and good durability properties.